With 51-vote margin, Washington lands commissioner primary heads to recount

As ballot counting wrapped up Tuesday night, Dave Upthegrove appeared to have edged out Sue Kuehl Pederson by just 51 votes – of 1.9 million cast – for second place in the Washington state lands commissioner primary.

It’s one of the closest results in a race for statewide office in Washington’s history.

If the outcome holds, it means Upthegrove, a Democrat, will scrape by into the general election and compete against Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler. But there are still more steps in the process. The slim margin will trigger a mandatory hand recount.

Tomorrow, Secretary of State Steve Hobbs’ office will consolidate county election results submitted today and prepare related documents. On Thursday, Hobbs is expected to certify the primary results and immediately direct a recount to begin in the lands commissioner race.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/08/20/with-51-vote-margin-washington-lands-commissioner-race-heads-toward-recount/